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Monday, September 01, 2014

Atlanta, GA -- In an otherwise forgettable season, Cole
Hamels and three relief pitchers gave Philadelphia Phillies fans something to
remember on Monday.

Hamels struck out seven in six no-hit innings and the bullpen took it from
there as Philadelphia recorded the first combined no-hitter in franchise annals during its 7-0 rout of the
Atlanta Braves in Monday's series opener.

Philadelphia's ace left-hander labored through
five walks and a high pitch count and was removed by manager Ryne
Sandberg for a pinch-hitter in the top of the seventh inning.

"I
understood coming around the sixth inning that it was going to be a
short game," said Hamels. "Understanding the situation and what was
going on, I wasn't really too worried about it."

Jake Diekman, Ken Giles and Jonathan Papelbon preserved the no-hitter, each tossing a clean inning out of the bullpen.

"I have the utmost respect and faith in the bullpen because
they've been outstanding all year, especially these three guys,"
continued Hamels. "They've been some of the best."

Diekman
struck out two in the seventh, Giles fanned the side in the eighth and
Papelbon got three quick outs in the ninth -- the last on a soft liner
hit by Phil Gosselin that first baseman Darin Ruf squeezed easily.

It was the first combined no-hitter in Phillies history and
their 12th overall, including Roy Halladay's playoff no-no in 2010
against the Reds.

Hamels (8-6) became the first pitcher since
Seattle's Kevin Millwood on June 8, 2012, to be pulled after six
no-hit innings. Millwood, who threw a no- hitter with the Phillies in
2003, left that game with an injury.

That was also the last time a major-league team threw a combined no-hitter, with five relievers backing up Millwood.

Ben Revere had a career-high five RBI for the Phillies, while Jimmy
Rollins moved into first place in franchise history with his 658th
multi-hit game. Rollins singled, doubled and tripled and drove in a
run to pass Richie Ashburn.

Julio Teheran (13-10) was
charged with five runs -- two earned -- in 6 2/3 innings to end a
three-start win streak. Jason Heyward walked twice and stole three bases
for the Braves.

"One way to look at it is it's just a loss,"
said Braves third baseman Chris Johnson. "We lost the game. Tip your
cap to their guys. You can't take anything away from them."

The Phillies manufactured the game's first run in the third inning.
Cody Asche slapped a double to the gap in right-center to lead off,
then moved to third on Hamels' bunt and scored when Revere lifted a
sacrifice fly to left.

Hamels got some help from his defense
to keep the no-hitter intact. With two outs in the third inning and
runners on second and third, Johnson lined to short right field and
Marlon Byrd made a diving catch going to his left.

Hamels had
more hits than the Braves, leading off the sixth inning with a single
before advancing on Revere's sacrifice bunt and scoring on Rollins'
second extra-base hit of the game, a triple to deep right field.

Hamels threw his 100th pitch of the game early in the sixth inning,
striking Justin Upton out chasing a high fastball. He then fanned Chris
Johnson and got Phil Gosselin to pop to second.

Grady Sizemore
pinch-hit for Hamels with two outs and two on in the seventh inning
and drew a walk. Revere cleared the bases with a triple over Heyward's
head in right-center, ending Teheran's outing, and Luis Avilan came on
to get the final out.

Revere's RBI single in the top of the ninth and Ryan Howard's bases-loaded walk made it 7-0.

Notes: Hamels improved to 6-1 over his last 11 starts ... The Braves own an
8-6 lead in the season series ... After Sunday's game, the Phillies
traded outfielder John Mayberry Jr. to the Blue Jays in exchange for
minor-league third baseman Gustavo Pierre ... Prior to the game, the
Braves recalled pitchers Juan Jaime and Chasen Shreve, and outfielders
Jose Constanza and Joey Terdoslavich from Triple-A Gwinnett.